Microsoft has unveiled a new book imprint, 8080 Books, to foster thought leadership in technology, business processes, and societal priorities like law, ethics, and policy.

The imprint’s name, 8080 Books, pays homage to the Intel 8080 microprocessor, a foundational element in Microsoft’s early history, and also reflects the company’s innovation-driven ethos.

8080 Books distinguishes itself with an accelerated publication process. It aims to release titles within three months of manuscript completion— faster than the standard of six to nine months. Unlike Microsoft Press, 8080 Books will explore broader societal and technological themes.

The first release, No Prize for Pessimism by Microsoft’s deputy CTO Sam Schillace, delves into the complexities of embracing technological innovation amidst uncertainty. The imprint’s second book, Platform Mindset by Marcus Fontoura, initially published in Portuguese, highlights the collaborative culture essential for building tech platforms.

While initially featuring Microsoft-affiliated authors, the imprint plans to include voices from outside the company. Notably, it is structured as a non-profit initiative, reinvesting profits into publishing or donating them via Microsoft Philanthropies.

With partnerships for print-on-demand and distribution, the imprint aims to position itself as a hub for impactful ideas, bridging the gap between fast-paced tech advancements and the often-slower publishing world. 

With a combined tenure of, well, let’s just say a long time, we’re both acutely aware of the rich well of talent at Microsoft from which we can draw upon and publish under the 8080 Books imprint over time. However, our intention is that we will seek to use this not just as a platform for Microsoft authors but also to showcase minds and ideas from outside of the company. 

While we are not currently accepting unsolicited manuscripts, our website does provide more details about our plans, such as evaluating out of print titles that we feel remain relevant to today’s leaders, and why we feel the time is right to launch this imprint. 

Brick & Mortar Books in Redmond, Washington, will host a reading and signing of 8080 Books’ first publication on Wednesday, December 11th, 2024.

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